When I find a song I like, it's on perpetual repeat at home, in the car and at the gym. When my kids refuse to leave their shoes in the shoe rack or their clothes in the laundry basket, I repeat the instruction again and again till the job is done. I repeat verses from the Bible that I need my soul to imbibe when facing obstacles of some sort. I repeatedly write and rewrite work so that some semblance of sense is made. I repeat stories from my childhood that are funny (till they are not funny).
They say repetition is the mother of learning but I'm not so sure if it should be given parenthood status just yet.
I notice that while repetition is great at building skills it's also excellent at causing us to settle comfortably into a routine. (goodbye spontaneity) It sometimes results in a mental and emotional numbness that is not the best for our humanity.
Repeating tasks is important on so many levels but my question is whether repetition is causing us to stagnate?
I noticed this vegetative state the last week when, for the 200 millionth time I asked the kids to put away their toys, shoes, underwear (you get the idea!) I was exhausted of saying the same thing and more exhausted because every time, they took their own longwinded route to clear up the mess they made. Honestly, I would rather just do it and be done with it but what good would that do for them (or their spouses later on!)
When watching the different routes they take to finish up what they need to I realised just how pointless all my repetitive instructions were.
Instead, I could just tell them before bed to clear up messes instead of harping on it from the time they walk into the house.
I could add great songs to my playlist and have them on shuffle so that I'm surprised every day by what plays next.
I could be more spontaneous in praying, where I rely on God to remind me every morning of a scripture that I would need for that day.
The list of 'I coulds' would go on and on but I need to first choose to make the shift from mindless repetition to mindful execution.
Are you ready to take the plunge with me?
Will you join me in choosing to upset your routine just for the heck of it?
What if you stuck to your schedule without letting your schedule stick it to you?
Repetition may then become the grandparent of a successful and enjoyable life!
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